Friday, December 20, 2013

The 7 Deadly Sins of Running

Sure, you can read Runner’s World or some technical running blog and learn about the real running mistakes we make like over striding, doing too much too soon, not fueling well, and wearing the wrong shoes. But, on this here blog, I would like to outline the less known sins that runners commit.

The First Deadly Sin: Talking about how great your long run was to an injured runner. Not cool. And, you might get punched or shot.

The Second Deadly Sin: Wearing a race t-shirt of a race you haven’t done. This, of course, is personal preference…some people just like a good shirt and don’t care what it says or represents. I, however, think I have to earn the shirt before I wear it. 

The Third Deadly Sin: Not waving to other runners. When you are running and someone is running towards you, give a damn wave. Just do it. It seriously takes two seconds and no energy. It’s not like you have to strike up a conversation about Obamacare or your poop habits. Just acknowledge your fellow runner. We truly are a secret little club. Let’s support each other.

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The Fourth Deadly Sin: Wearing white tights/shorts. Just don’t do it. It is far too risky. I am all about risk-taking, but even I would never trust a fart or a what could happen to a white pair of shorts/tights while running.

The Fifth Deadly Sin: Lying about your race time. Remember when Paul Ryan did this? He said he ran a sub three hour marathon, when in actuality it was a 4:01. Slight difference. The truth is, anyone can look up your race time. Don’t fudge it. Just be honest. If people only like you because you ran a certain time, they’re not worth hanging out with anyway.

The Sixth Deadly Sin: Getting on a moving treadmill or closing your eyes on a  treadmill.  Once I did get on a treadmill at the gym that someone had left on. I promptly got sling-shotted across the gym, bruising my ass and my ego. Some people tell me they wanted to try visualization or relaxation and closed their eyes while on the ‘mill. Yeah, that is not recommended either.

The Seventh Deadly Sin: Over discussing your running with non-runners. Yes, they politely ask how your training is going.  This does not mean they want a 30 minute run-down on your planned race pace, your zero drop shoes, your bodily functions on your 20 mile run, and how much Vaseline you need to put on to avoid chafing.  Know when to say when!

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Ever done any of the above? Yes, the Third, Sixth and Seventh.

Any other “sins”/mistake you can think of?

SUAR

37 comments:

  1. Since I am pretty exclusively a trail runner my personal pet peeved is people who drop trash on the trail...especially during a race but even just out in the woods

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  2. Another sin: arguing with a race director that a course is short or long because your GPS sez so.

    (yes, guilty but they said it was a 5k and they were nearly a quarter mile short).

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  3. Guilty as charged on 1 and 7. Let's be honest, on number 7, I'm a repeat offender.

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  4. Sin 2 needs clarification. Are race volunteers allowed to wear the swag? It takes a village and volunteers are a key part. I say even though they didn't run it race swag for volunteers is not a sin?

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    1. Yes, I would agree a volunteer is okay to wear the shirt for sure. You all make the race happen!

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    2. Absolutely! Volunteers make it happen!

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  5. I totally agree with the first one - I am injured but making a comeback and my runner friends are constantly talking about their runs! I love hearing about it, but it makes me miss is even more.

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  6. Do you have to finish the race to wear the shirt? I had the pukes really bad during the full marathon I tried to run this fall. I dropped out at the half because I couldn't keep anything down.

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  7. I have committed the first sin. I can't help it. I love talking about running with other runners, regardless of their injuries...

    The biggest sin I can think of is when men wear really tight bike shorts/compression shorts whilst running. Seriously, where do you look when they run towards you and you can see the outline of their package and its jiggling around? If you really need to wear tight shorts, then that is okay, just put some looser ones on top please.

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  8. The first sin... I was dealing with an injury back in Octoberish and it was like a punch in the gut every time I read or heard of a great run/race. If I knew how to destroy the internet I would have... guess you can say I'm passionate about running?

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  9. I love this! I'd have to add if you either use the phrase "I'm slow, but" or if you comment to another runner that they are slow. Not many of us are racing to win, or running as a job, who cares?! You run, you're a runner, I'm a runner, let's wave at each other and discuss more important things, like favorite flavor of Gu.

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  10. 1. Can you add sandbagging? It needs to stop. Don't simper about how you'll probably run 1:40 for the half, and then run 1:32. That's annoying, and it totally messes up workout and pace groups.
    2. I've done #2 several times. As a member of the New Orleans Track Club, sometimes I'm lucky enough to get given a leftover race shirt. For a few years I didn't have any long sleeved tech Ts, so I was grateful. But they aren't anything special. It's not like I'm wearing a Leadville shirt around or something, just average half marathons.

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  11. OT - but I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you posting the info about the dress you were wearing in your '4 Random...' post last week. I needed something to wear to my company's Xmas party and that dress looked perfect. I found it online, wore it last night and got loads of compliments. Thanks for helping a style challenged former CO sister out!

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  12. I often close my eyes in spinning class, and sometimes the habit crosses over when I am on the treadmill. I have never fallen, but I have lost my balance doing it.

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  13. I'm so guilty of 6 and 7! (I get so bored on the 'mill I tend to close my eyes...I've nearly lost balance multiple times doing that!)

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  14. I ran today and thought of you. It was 17degrees when I left my house and I was WHINING! 20 at the start, and I said to myself "Be Badass like Risdon!" Got myself a 10k pr! Also stayed to cheer on the runners still coming in. We are a club and we need to support everyone of us. Of course if it would've been -7 I would've stayed in bed. That's just CRAZY!

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  15. Another sin - not sharing the road/trail. If you're running in a pack and a solo runner is coming towards you, don't make them stop - share the space! It's usually just a step or two difference.

    The guy at my local running shop try to sell me a marathon shirt "half price!" But I didn't run it - I would have felt guilty wearing it!

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  16. Don't commit sin #3. It makes unnamed runner look like a total jerk as he ignores two attempts at "smile and say good morning," and then runs past flashing his snarky tee shirt that says "Don't be Last" on the back. It's not like he didn't notice me. I run with 3 dogs so I'm like a mini parade. I wanted to chunk my water bottle at him!

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  17. I would definitely add taking up the entire running path with a pack of runners to this list!! I like waving to other runners but most people I see seem too "in the zone".

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  18. I've done #2 (wait, I probably shouldn't type it like that on this blog...), but only because it was a 5k for my kids' school and the only reason we missed it was because my youngest spent 4 days in Children's Hospital with Kawasaki disease (yes, it's real). I paid for it, I just didn't earn it. And I haven't worn it out of the house yet.

    I probably do #7, too, but I'm not sure. Which means I probably do.

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  19. Can we add waving thanks to cars that make the effort to go around us on the road? I'm all about positive reinforcement for those folks.

    I'm new to the treadmill and made the mistake of looking back at my husband while running and that almost happened to me!

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  20. HAHA! #7, but not really any thing more than bodily functions. And really not withing a running context. Because #everybodypoops. ;)

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  21. Oh, man, sin #2 is so perfect! There's a race organizer in my area that offers pretty nice swag, and I know a person who registers - sells her bib - and then proudly marches around in the race shirt. And she won't admit she didn't run the race, either.

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  22. I've only committed Sin #7.

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  23. PERFECTION all entirely true!!! Thanks for another great laugh and well let's be honest teaching some etiquette :)

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  24. Love, love love this post! I was nodding my head at all the sins. And I am sometimes guilty of the last one. Eek! Happy sinless running :)

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  25. Love this! I wholeheartedly agree with #3! People on the American River Trail need to smile/wave/nod more often. I love to say hi to everyone, probably way too eager Beaver - but it makes my run enjoyable!!

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  26. This is really legit! I have been on both sides. Talking about my runs nonstop, and most recently, our due to an injury and disgusted by any and all running talk as I ice cream my sorrows away :(. In all seriousness, I have an injury- my first in years! I pulled a groin, My right leg hurts way up there every time I extend. I was wondering, have you ever had this? When will it go away? It happened my first day of training and I am VERY grumpy. Thank You! Looking for advice...

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  27. I'm guilty of #2, but only with one race. I rolled BOTH ankles falling off a curb the day before a half marathon, so I bowed out. I figured that since I paid for the jacket and was at the race to support friends running the full marathon, I could probably wear it. But, I did wait over a year to wear it, if that counts for anything!

    Also, I'm definitely guilty of #7...mostly to my poor husband!

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  28. I'm sad to say I am guilty of #3 and #7. I have a really bad tendency of really getting into a zone when I am running and sometimes forget to wave. But to be fair the ones I don't usually wave at seem very tuned out and don't really pay much attention. I have waved or nodded before and been snubbed. I guess what goes around comes around. I do try to make a concerned effort to pay attention when running.

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  29. I'm guilty of #7. Sometimes I catch myself sharing a little too many details and excitement and the look on the other person's face is I only asked "how was your day?" :)

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  30. I am totally with you on earning the shirt you wear. I won't even wear the shirts from the races I volunteer at but I am a pretty balls to the wall, extreme kinda guy sometimes.

    I like to wave and give a good morning, how ya doing or have a great ride/run and it makes me shake my head when I get nothing back (just in case they look back at me for confirmation that I disapprove).

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  31. Je dois transmettre mon admiration pour votre générosité à l'appui des personnes qui doivent avoir de l'aide dans ce domaine. Votre engagement personnel à trouver la solution semblait être étonnamment perspicace et a permis aux travailleurs comme moi d'atteindre leurs objectifs. Vos propres conseils et conseils chaleureux et utiles m'indiquent beaucoup et beaucoup plus à mes collègues. Avec mes remerciements; De chacun de nous.
    msp | slope | fupa | kahoot

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